A HALTON politician has called for civil service jobs to be moved out of London and into locations across the country.

During a session in the House Of Commons, Derek Twigg spoke to civil society minster Rob Wilson.

Mr Twigg said: “One way of helping people from all social backgrounds to progress in the civil service is to move many more jobs, especially senior civil service jobs, out of London and into the regions, particularly areas such as the North West.

“At the moment, someone has to come to London to progress in the civil service.”

Mr Wilson responded by saying that there has been a ‘London bias to some extent’ within the civil service and that regional hubs would be opened as a result.

He added: “We will open one additional assessment centre in the North this year, with more regional assessment sites to follow.

“We will ensure that the fast stream is as attractive to people in all regions as it is to those in London.”